11 December, 2006 - Published 15:29 GMT

Should Britian apologise

Read and post your comments in our 'slavery apology' debate

The British Prime Minister Tony Blair recently issued a statement of 'deep sorrow' for the UK's involvement in the slave trade. What do you think? Should Britain unequivocally apologise for its involvement in the slave trade? Are the descendants of slaves owed more than an apology?

This is a moderated debate. The BBC reserves the right of editorial oversight.

I think the scars that slavery left on our society, both economically and socially are far beyond what an apology can heal. Let’s face it, Africans might have done it too but they didn't colonize us
K Peters-Fraser
Kingstown, St.Vincent

I do not believe an insincere apology will help alleviate the hurt and suffering that we as black people encounter on a daily basis.
African people and their descendants are seen as second class citizens not only by the white man but by all other cultures.
It is far better to move on, we have to look forward, the world is always changing, we have come along way in the past fifty years, yes, not far enough but no amount of money will ever change the hurt and the hopelessness our ancestors must have felt.
Michael
London, England

It is far better to move on.

I was uplifted when I read some of the posts, and then I felt like a slave might have felt as he was taken against his will to a place to pick cotton.
It is important to realise that an apology no matter how late is part of the healing process. It's shameful to say why do it some 400 years late.
If we wait it might be another 200 years it seems. The Black Man and Woman's struggle today still continues and is part of the political and economic constructs we create. If anyone can deny that Britain was built from the blood and sweat of slavery, sit back one day and ask yourself how this great city called London was built.
A A Larcher
Toronto, Canada

One cannot deny that slavery and racism caused a lot of issues for black people. And yes, apologies and reparations would be a good thing, but what if it never happens? I think a more positive approach would be for us as Black people to look deep within and acknowledge our problems as a people. Our main problem in my view is that we are a race of consumers (and I don't think slavery cause that). Black people need to learn to SELL more and BUY less. Open your eyes people. An apology and reparations may never come; we need to stop making excuses and take control of our destiny. We need to think hard and position ourselves to compete in the global economy, or we will remain slaves for another 500 years.
L Joseph
West London, UK

Whilst I understand the sentiments of those who say that we need to leave slavery behind on move on with our lives, it seems foolish to discount the massive global impact that slavery has had and will have for years to come. The slave trade interrupted a pattern of nature and life that was thousands of years old, disrupted traditions which had existed long before so called European Civilization, and uprooted an entire nation. I am a successful black female lawyer, so could not be accused of having a chip on my shoulder, but at the same time it seems clear to me that the impact of slavery will echo amongst the diaspora for decades and centuries to come, and the sobriety of the issue should be brought home to European populations around the world.
Cole
London, UK

I don’t think it is right to say Britain shouldn’t apologise because the Africans did it too. The fact is that you even did it and profited off countless lives that never endured freedom. Unfortunately those past mistakes have a profound impact on today’s generation.
K H
Canada

Sure Britain should pay reparations, as soon as the Italians (Romans) pay it to the British and the rest of southern Europe, the Russians pay it to the class formerly know as the Serfs, the Japanese to the Chinese, every African tribe to every other tribe, the Arabs to all the descendants of East Africa and half the Pacific island tribes to the other half. I think you get my point. It was done, it was wrong, but guess what IT"S OVER WITH and has been so for more than 200 years! Talk about holding a grudge! As for slavery being the cause for all of Africa’s modern day problems, get real! If you really believe that I have some lovely house plots on the moon I want you to buy! Every race, culture and religion at one point in history was enslaved by another, but why is it African slavery is the one that must get an apology and reparations? Makes you think does it not? Give it up. It’s never going to happen.
Brian
Kingston, Jamaica

Let’s say for argument’s sake that we do get an apology. But let’s also say for argument’s sake that we don’t get an apology, what happens then? Will we be treated any differently when we walk down the street, when we go into a store, when we go for an interview etc. etc.? Will we ourselves behave any differently than we do now, will our situations suddenly improve? Will we free from the stigma of the Black condition?’ To be quite honest I believe that we will never get an apology, or at least a genuine one that is not carefully worded for political purposes. This will not come from those in Africa who sold us or from the Europeans who bought us from them.
L Layne
Nottingham, England

Any response from any current European government is tokenistic as far as I can see. Who are you apologising on behalf of? Yourselves? Your slavemaster ancestors? Modern society? If apologies are being made on behalf of society, how do you know the social and ethnic majority even care of are conscious enough of the impact slavery is still having on black people? Black people do not want apologies. A black man wants to have the confidence that if he wants to start a business, he has a fair chance of getting a bank loan. A black woman wants to be secure in the knowledge that she has earned her status on merit, not because she was "under represented in this field."
Samantha

One cannot view Africans enslaving Africans as the sole reason to reduce the argument of an apology or due reparations. Remember, during this time Europeans encountered the similar tribal issues. In addition tribes such as the Asante or the Yoruba never saw each other as being all African or all being black, they saw themselves as being whatever tribe they belong to. One of the main reasons why countries in Africa, the Caribbean, and countries that have a large African descendant population are not doing well is because of institutionalized racism.
D Peters
Brooklyn, New York, USA

As a Vincentian living in England I do not require or want an apology from England. An apology would suggest I care. I do not. Yes, I can empathise with my black ancestors but I also feel a sense of shame for what my white ancestors did to my black ancestors. I do believe as black people we have to accept that our African ancestors colluded in the slave trade. And let’s not forget the Arabs, it is a little known fact that the Arabs were also major players in the slave trade.
As black people we do not want the white man’s charity. What is required is for the black man to take control of his assets and the fruits of his labour. The black man will never be free until we cease our dependency on the white man’s aid.
S Dellimore
Eltham, England

An apology would suggest I care. I do not.

Reparations are mandatory. The more significant change however will be to revise history books to reflect what actually happened during those dreadful times. The State of Israel and the Jewish people have drilled it home about the 6 million who were mercilessly slaughtered by the Nazis. But I would submit that the Jewish holocaust is probably 1/10th of the number of BLACK people killed in, for, and by the slave trade. How many royal jewels were stolen from African nations. When will they be returned? Race relations between black and white people worldwide will not go forward until there is an accounting.
T (A U.S. Soldier from the Caribbean in Iraq)
Killeen, USA

I wonder who sold the slaves to the slavers - white people? I doubt this. History has taught us that it were the stronger African tribes that sold slaves to the whites. Maybe they should apologise to themselves.
E Lloyd

It surprises me that many of the respondents see no point in an apology. It is one of the ironies of the Caribbean person that we've become so psychologically Eurocentric that we fail to recognize when we are on the receiving end of a bad situation. An apology is most definitely in order! Further, reparation should follow. Again, as Caribbean people, we tend to forget the fact that we were uprooted from our rightful homeland (yes, with the assistance of fellow Africans). We also tend to forget that the Jewish people were compensated for the sufferings they endured during the Holocaust (and rightly so), but whenever the same issue comes up relative to African slavery, even people of African descent tend to frown upon it. Truly, mental slavery continues. Bob Marley could not have articulated it any better.
G Emmanuel
Thibou's Estate, Antigua

Britain should not only apologise but compensate the Caribbean for all the human rights violations meted out to Caribbean people. The region remains underdeveloped largely as a consequence of exploitation which is still being advocated through the neoclassical economic model which imperial powers like Britain wants the countries in the region to accept. It’s a shame!
J Dennis
Spanish Town, Jamaica

Although the present generation is not responsible for slavery, this has not prevented governments from formally recognizing the injustices in which their ancestors played an active role. Slavery should be no different. Not only were these individuals denied freedom but they were also stripped of their identity and culture, two of the most valuable human possessions. Today, formerly colonized nations of Africa, the Caribbean and South America suffer from political instability and economic stagnation. The so-called charity and assistance from the West is more along the lines of neo-colonialism. Perhaps an official apology would encourage new dialogue on how to lessen these long-term effects of slavery.
S
Toronto, Canada

The world would be a better world if more people apologize to each other or a county for its wrong to each other. It's like buying blood diamonds. Even if the chiefs sold some of there own people the Europeans took them and treated them like animals and also went in to some of the villages and took some by force. The fact is: There was the slave system that created the plantation system the cotton plantation, sugar plantation, the evil overseas, house slaves, field salves rice and tobacco plantation. The list can go on and does they use for sex that created mulattoes children this grow as part of the society over 400 years this was a system. Even in the 50s and 60 black was still being treated badly and asking for equal treatment. We are not asking for a hand out but what was stolen from us. And I think an apology is a great start to healing the past. Look at what happening in Darfur and what happen to the Jews evil is evil wrong is wrong. It time of us all to wake up.
M Gordon
Scarborough, Canada

Britain should apologise because as far as I can see it we are still in slavery days. A black man cannot drive a decent car in England or you are stopped and asked a hundred questions because they think all black people are lowlifes. We would move on from slavery if they let us do. Give Africa back to black people. Let the white charities help Africa because white people are the ones that destroyed it for years.
M Farrell
Salem, Montserrat

For me, a British born Black man of Barbadian parentage, this is a very emotive subject. Yes black and Arabs were involved in the slave trade, this is something that we as black people should realise. It is not as easy as some people have said on this message board to "get over it" when a people have had their bloodline interrupted, culture and names changed, to be dehumanised, beaten, raped and killed, the psychological effects from this cannot just fade away.
The reason I think there is so much pain felt to this day is that at the time the slave trade was a legal business and not seen as a crime. This is how the Europeans have been able to avoid any issue of reparations. The Jews who suffered through the Holocaust were paid massive reparations from West Germany, so they had a sense of closure and justice.
S Jordan
London, England

I feel Britain should apologise because of what they did to black people. They have suffered for a long time.
We all are only human after all.
M Bennett
Bristol, UK

I think it's a long time coming. We as a race are disadvantaged as we don't know where we came from, from whom we came and where we belong. We are displaced and unwanted in or foster countries. We have lost our language, our true religion, and our sense of belonging. How can we progress without knowing where we came from? The least these countries should do is to make financial restorations to those of us who want to return to our homelands either in the West Indies or Africa but are unable to do so. They should also make the slave trade and its history part of the National Curriculum so these terrible events can never be repeated. The Holocaust receives sympathy and forms of awareness, as the Holocaust museum in London shows. Our heritage is covered up and pushed to Liverpool and has not even a fraction of the publicity that the Holocaust museum receives. Is it because people can't believe that one white person would do that to another but when Blacks are involved it apparently seems as thought it acceptable? When we ask for discourse on the topic, we are required to shut up or put up.
M Sparks
London, England

I think Britain should apologise not just because it benefited so much from the trade and still living off the profits today, but also to show Britain’s adopted children (Black/Caribbean British children)that they belong and are/were vital contributors to history and Britain’s future. I believe that so much of the problems amongst black British born children exist because they have no sense of worth or belonging which is contributed by society’s views about them are borne from negative stereotypes. Every time a black child is asked "what is your surname" the look on some Europeans faces when told "Smith" or likewise says it all!
Denise
London, England

The important thing to understand here is the healing process. This occurred 200 years ago and although it affects us all, we have to move forward with a positive outlook and hope that such an event will never occur again; thus, in my opinion, an apology is not needed from no one.
S Baptiste
Brooklyn, USA

Those who think slavery - or any other form of genocide/oppression should go unpunished - just give every injustice we see today a few years then forget about it, right?
C A Young
Kingston, Jamaica

I am not surprised at the callousness of Europeans to the slave issue. Not only did they enslave and exploit Africans, they continue to perpetuate prejudice and disrespect for people of colour. You often hear sympathy for six million European Jews killed by fellow Europeans, but alas no such feeling for the two hundred million Africans killed and exploited by Europe. Blaming the so call uncivilized Africans for slavery is tantamount to putting the brunt of the blame on the street dealers for drugs. Why should Europeans apologize? To apologise one must first have a conscience, and from the comments made it is certain there will be no apology. Britain should not only apologise, the wealth stolen should be returned. Every time I am looked down upon because of my hue, I am enslaved and victimized over and over
again.
J Charles
Castries, Country: St.Lucia

It is no longer our fight. Why should I have to apologise for the ills of my fore fathers? Why should they? We have bigger battles now, more important issues and a new generation of youth being lost to North American pop culture. Will the Americans have to apologise for destroying society in the next hundred years?
Anand

As the words of the late and great Bob Marley "In this great future, you can't forget your past". I think Britain should equivocally apologise for their role in the slave trade. Some may say that blacks contibuted. I think our African fore fathers were under duress and fear for their own lives and families.
PJ Carter
Portmore, Jamaica

The descendants of slaves are not only entitled to an apology, they deserve reparations. An apology would be a symbolic first step but it will have to be followed by reparations for the destruction the system wrought on Africa which continues to today. You do not rip tens of millions of a continent’s most able bodied economic agents- the slaves- without systemic implications. The poverty, corruption and disease which characterises Africa’s plight today is 100% attributable to slavery and its consequences.
Let us not hide behind platitudes like," I did not own slaves" or shirk our historic obligation to right the wrongs of our forebears. Slavery was singularly the most despicable, destructive and damaging act of homosapiens. We either right the wrong now or continue to reap its bitter harvest for all time to come. Come on Britannia admit your wrong, get off of your self righteous horse and rectify this stain on your moral fiber.
Charles
Chico, USA

First of all, slavery was an industry in which black brothers in the African Continent participated in this business with the first world countries. So, if any apology is to be made, it should be done by our African brothers in that continent.
From what I have read and been told, these businessmen in Africa never resisted the sale of slaves to these pirates. So, any apology, at this time, should come from the governments in the African continent. It is time for more firm relations to be developed between the African people and its descendants in the Caribbean. We need to hear from them. Not Britain, France, Spain or Holland!
R Apparico
St Phillips, Antigua & Barbuda

We do not have to apologise for anything that happened 200 years ago or do we blame the Romans for invading England years ago.
R Blanchard
Ipswich, Suffolk, UK

Do we blame the Romans for invading England years ago?

How about Tony Blair apologising to the Aborigines, American Indians and India; the Catholics apologising to the Protestants for killing the non Catholics; the Protestants for killing the non Catholics; the Christians against the non Christians; and so on and so forth.
R Copsey
Maidstone, UK

Let the whole stupid debate finish. Look to the future, not the dead past, let all nations grow together in peace
N Campbell
Barrow-in-Furness, England

European countries owe a debt of gratitude to people of African descent because without slavery they would not have prospered, after slavery had built the economy of the new world white people in droves emigrated to the e.g United States to reap the benefits and the black people got absolutely nothing but segregation. So obviously they should apologise and pay reparation for the for the crimes that they have committed against my people .
R Thomas
London, UK

The Africans worldwide should forgive and forget.
Y Taylor
Fort Lauderdale, USA

I think that we should look at the truth. The slave trade existed for more than four thousand years. The trade was run by black west coast Africans who abducted natives of central Africa and sold them on the coast. History recalls the sale of slaves to the Egyptians, the Romans and several Arab States. The period of time of British and American involvement was very short in its complete history. I do not think that any apology is needed especially to the west coast black Africans who provided the service.
M Vine
Fleet, UK

What’s done is done. We cannot change history no matter if we like it or not. We have no right to apologise for other peoples actions. What was right then is not right now and cannot be changed. We can only learn from our and other peoples mistakes.
A Williams
Swansea, Wales

No following generations should pay for the fore-bears wrongdoings. Even the black skinned people committed wrongdoing against their own kind in the past. I am sure every other country has. There will always be people who like to stir up strife, because they hope that if they shout loud enough and wield a big enough stick, they too will eventually line their pockets.
If the media stopped giving credence to all the nonsense spouted by fanatics, there would be a lot less trouble and strife. The media in all its forms puts ideas into the heads of the fanatics, who would not be able to think all that through, without the input. The peoples of the world get on very well together, if left in peace, without all the stirrers.
Freda
Jersey, Channel Islands

Why do you think you need an apology from this or any other county for slavery? The UK has been enslaved by numerous nations throughout its history; from the Danes, to the Vikings, to the Romans. Do I need an apology for this? No I do not. Get on with the life you have and leave history to the history books
P Spence
Darlington, UK

This question would be the same as asking the German, Italian and Japanese populations to apologise for their ancestors’ roles in World War Two. The past can’t be changed. We can only learn and teach our children. There are more pressing matters of concern in the world now.
W McGuigan
Inverness, Scotland

Don't forget the past. Your past is your guide for your future. Don't seek revenge. Apology can heal the mental wounds suffered but the setbacks resulting from colonisation in terms of arrest of progress and development of the indigenous populations need to be addressed and rectified.
In brief what was taken needs to be put back, be it Africa, the Caribbean, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh or the Middle East.
M S Sheikh
London, UK

I forgave the Romans.
I was a serving soldier in the country a month before the independence of Guyana. Most of the ex-slaves wanted to stay British. They think we are a soft touch and want a backhander from the English. Guyana was the best country I have ever been to and anybody who would like to return back to there homeland I will take their place and go there.
K Gardner
Welling, UK

Definitely not, if we start apologising for history, there would be no end to it and it would have to be worldwide. But particularly in this case as the West African chiefs were instrumental in rounding up the slaves and initially sold them to the Europeans for shipment to the Americas.
Valerie

Why have we to apologise for what happened 200 years ago by another generation? Where will it end? Apologise for the treatment of the Scots, the Irish? The Blackman is lucky his forefathers were slaves. A lot of countries suffered. It’s called growing up. More good was done than bad. Even today more is done in Africa by the white man than his brothers. You don’t see black charities.
All they want is people to feel sorry for them and play on the suffering of there forefathers. They should to do something about the suffering in Africa today which is more urgent than them looking for an apology. Today they treat their fellow Africans as the slavers did!
It’s time for the blacks of the world to unite and do something for their fellow blacks, and not leave it for the white man to sort out.
A Bain
Wolverhampton, UK

Why should we apologise? Slavery existed long before the European nations came into being; often it was their own tribal rulers selling them into slavery. Does everyone owe an apology to every person whose ancestors may have been wronged 100's of years ago? What nonsense. Get on with your life and quit looking for a handout.
P Dunn
Tampa, USA

Apologize for what? All this is cynicism, hypocrisy, lack of historic knowledge and loss of time perspective. Today I do support Amnesty International but 500 years ago is more than probably that I would have slaves without a hint of remorse because that was the situation then.
Black people in Africa did start the trade in one of the biggest ethnic cleansing ever seen. If you do believe that 15 rogue Portuguese sailors could dominate the tribes of superb warriors in East Africa in their own then you could well believe in Santa... All this political correctness is nothing else than collective stupidity. Get a life, people!

Tino
St. Leonards-on-Sea, UK

Apologize for what?   Tino

Slavery was wrong we all know that but it was not our present generation’s fault. Fingers could be pointed at various African tribes but what is done is done. We should look to the future and not dwell on the past as it can cause problems today which must be wrong.
A Goldsworthy
Abergavenny, Wales

I wonder where we would be without the influence of both our cultures on each others? I believe that what we have learned about and from each other has enriched and advanced our knowledge and understanding of each others’ cultures and beliefs. If an apology furthers this understanding...then why not???
K McDaid
Edinburgh, Scotland

I live in a part of the UK where a man fought for the abolition of slavery. I have to say I am proud of that, but if we have to apologise for our forefathers part in the slavery trade where do we start, and to be honest, where do we stop? We can make a heartfelt apology for our part in slavery but who will believe it? It is like saying we are sorry for our part in numerous wars and tests of weapons but we cannot change the past. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
However the rape and pillage of Africa and its people is a terrible fact. For that I am saddened to live in a country that was a part of it. I can apologise for our part in slavery and know I mean it, as for anyone else believing it is another matter.
Can we learn from the past? I really do not know, we can but hope.
A Kobasko
Wisbech, UK

Why should any European country apologise? Slavery was already a thriving business between the black men of Africa and the Arabs. Britain led the way in reforming peoples’ attitude to slavery. But it still goes on, carried out by the people who first started it - mainly Arabs and the black man himself.
D Russell
Wishaw, Scotland

By unlocking the economic padlocks on all black countries all black people will know that they free but otherwise we are still slaves.
K Rehema
London, UK

The people to blame are the tribal chiefs who sold their people to the slave traders. Remember also it was the British who stopped the slave trade. The Royal Navy ships stopping the slave traders ships, or have people forgotten that part of history?
JT Worrall
Blyth, UK

In my family as children we were too busy working in the mines to loose sleep over the issue.
RJ
Stockport, ENGLAND

Slavery is not my favourite subject, nether is war but that is around us everywhere. But if the wars all stop (yeah right!) are the country leaders going to come together and apologise for sending our friends and families who have died and been injured beyond repair to war? I thought not. So Britain apologise for its involvement in the slave trade? Mmmm. I’ll keep my ears listening.
R Lance
Wales, UK

Not only is the West to blame but also the Arabs and their own people, because those were the persons that captured the future slaves.
E Voorhout
The Netherlands

How can you people say you are grateful? Grateful for slavery? Grateful for years of torture rape and murder so that you can be rich today? Shame on you! I would give all the money I had if it meant that my ancestors weren’t subject to such cruelty. Please think carefully of what you say. I think Britain and other countries do need to help the economies of the African, Caribbean and South American countries that they exploited robbed and cheated us for so long ... look at them and look at us on a whole. They profited so much off all people of colour. It’s sad but true
K Hechme
Antigua W.I

So what do you think? Should Britain unequivocally apologise for its involvement in the slave trade? Are the descendants of slaves owed more than an apology?
Send us your comments.